A camera for successively capturing images of subjects, in which respective print quantity designations indicate the number of prints to be made for each one of the captured images, includes print cost totaller that calculates a print cost total which is a total cost of prints to be made for every one of the captured images, and updates the print cost total to make it current each time a print quantity designation is used for a particular captured image.
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1. A camera for successively capturing images of subjects, in which respective print quantity designations indicate the number of prints to be made for each one of the captured images, is characterized in that:
a print cost totaller calculates a print cost total which is a total cost of the number of prints to be made for all the captured images, and updates the print cost total to make it current each time a print quantity designation is used for a particular captured image.
15. A method of operating a camera for successively capturing images of subjects, in which respective print quantity designations indicate the number of prints to be made for each one of the captured images, said method comprising the steps of:
calculating a print cost total which is a total cost of the number of prints to be made for all the captured images; and updating the print cost total to make it current each time a print quantity designation is used for a particular captured image.
16. A method of cumulating a print cost total in an image capture camera comprises the steps of:
successively capturing images of subjects; storing respective print quantity designations of the number of prints to be made for each one of the captured images; and updating a print cost total which is a total cost of the number of prints to be made for all the captured images each time a print quantity designation is used for a particular captured image, whereby a running cost total will be maintained.
10. A camera for successively capturing images of subjects, is characterized in that:
a print quantity selector provides respective print quantity designations of the number of prints to be made for a most-recently captured image and for any one of earlier captured images; and a print cost totaller calculates a print cost total which is a total cost of the number of prints to be made for all the captured images, and is connected to said print quantity selector to update said print cost total each time a print quantity designation is used for a most-recent captured image or for an earlier captured image, whereby a running cost total will be maintained.
11. A camera for exposing latent images of subjects on successive frames of a filmstrip, in which a print quantity selector provides respective print quantity designations of the number of prints to be made for each one of the exposed frames, is characterized in that:
a print cost totaller calculates a print cost total which is a total cost of the number of prints to be made for all the captured images, and is connected to said print quantity selector to update said print cost total to make it current each time a print quantity designation is used for a particular exposed frame; and a display is connected to said print cost totaller for displaying the print quantity designation used for a particular exposed frame and for displaying said print quantity total.
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Reference is made to commonly assigned copending application Serial No. 09/499,812, entitled CAMERA THAT RECORDS PRINT QUANTITY DESIGNATION ON FILM FOR EACH EXPOSURE, AND HAS PRINT QUANTITY TOTALLING and filed Feb. 8, 2000 in the name of Stephen G. Malloy Desormeaux, James W. Fulmer and Robert Hills.
The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and in particular to image capture cameras in which there is provided a print quantity designation of how many prints are to be made for each captured image.
New cameras for the new worldwide "Advanced Photo System" ("APS") can give you not just one print format, but a choice of three. For the classic proportions of a 35 mm print, the photographer chooses the "C" format. For a wider view, the full-frame "H" format is chosen. And for an even wider look, the "P" format is chosen to provide a sweeping panoramic print. The "APS" camera records the choice of print format magnetically and/or optically on one longitudinal edge of the filmstrip for each exposed frame on the filmstrip. The standard encodement on film for the "H" format is the binary 0, 0, i.e. no recorded data bits. The standard encodement on film for the "P" format is either the binary 0, 1 or the binary 1, 0, i.e. one recorded data bit. The standard encodement on film for the "C" format is the binary 1, 1, i.e. two recorded data bits. To make the prints, the photofinisher's equipment reads the optical or magnetic encodements on film and automatically prints each print in the encoded "C", "H" or "P" format. A print having a "C" format is typically 4×6 inches. A print having a "H" format is typically 4×7 inches. And a print having a "P" format is typically 4×10 inches or 4×11.5 inches. No matter which format is selected in the camera, "C", "H" or "P", the exposed frames on the filmstrip are always in the "H" format. This allows re-prints to be made in any of the three formats rather than just in the selected format.
The "APS" camera can include a print quantity selector that is manually operated to provide a print quantity designation of how many prints are to be made for a particular exposed frame on the filmstrip. The print quantity designation is recorded magnetically on one longitudinal edge of the filmstrip for the particular exposed frame.
The cross-referenced application Serial No. 09/499,812, entitled CAMERA THAT RECORDS PRINT QUANTITY DESIGNATION ON FILM FOR EACH EXPOSURE, AND HAS PRINT QUANTITY TOTALLING discloses a camera for successively capturing images of subjects, which has a print quantity selector that can be manually operate d to provide various print quantity designations of the number of prints to be made for each one of the captured images. A print reset can be manually operated to change the print quantity designations used for the captured images simultaneously to the same print quantity designation. A print quantity totaller is connected to the print quantity selector and to the print reset for updating a print quantity total which is the sum of the number of prints to be made for the captured images, both when the print quantity selector is used and when the print reset is used.
A camera for successively capturing images of subjects, in which respective print quantity designations indicate the number of prints to be made for each one of the captured images, is characterized in that:
a print cost totaller calculates a print cost total which is a total cost of prints to be made for every one of the captured images, and updates the print cost total to make it current each time a print quantity designation is used for a particular captured image.
The print cost totaller calculates a print quantity total which is a sum of the number of prints to be made for every one of the captured images, updates the print quantity total to make it current each time a print quantity designation is used for a particular captured image, and applies the updated print quantity total and a unit print cost to calculate the print cost total.
The invention is disclosed as being embodied preferably in a motorized film advance camera. Because the features of a motorized film advance camera are generally known, the description which follows is directed in particular only to those elements forming part of or cooperating directly with the disclosed embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that other elements may take various forms known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
Referring now to the drawings,
The camera 10 has an opaque main body part 20 that is housed between a pair of connected opaque front and rear cover parts 22 and 24. See FIG. 1. The main body part 20 has a cartridge receiving chamber 26 for receiving the film cartridge 18 through a bottom opening (not shown) when a bottom door 28 is pivoted open, a rearwardly open backframe opening 30 at which the respective frames 12 of the filmstrip 14 are temporarily positioned one at a time to be exposed, and an exposed film take-up chamber 32 that contains a film take-up spool 34 which is incrementally rotated following each film exposure to wind the most-recently exposed one of the film frames onto an exposed film roll 36 on the spool (and to position a fresh unexposed film frame at the backframe opening 30). When the film take-up spool 34 is incrementally rotated, the filmstrip 14 is advanced forward one frame increment which is slightly greater than a frame width. A drive motor 38 resides inside the film take-up spool 34 for incrementally rotating the spool to advance the filmstrip 14 forward one frame increment, and its operation is controlled by a known microcomputer 40. When substantially the entire length of the filmstrip 14 is exposed, i.e. the total number of available film frames 12 are exposed, a spindle (not shown) which projects into a cavity 42 in a top end 44 of a film spool inside the film cartridge 18 is continuously rotated via the motor 38 and a suitable gear train (not shown) to rewind the exposed film length rearward into the cartridge.
To magnetically record the user-selected information along the track 16 adjacent each exposed film frame 12, the motor 38 must be actuated after the exposed film length is rewound rearward into the film cartridge 18 to continuously rotate the film take-up spool 34 in order to advance the exposed film length forward. Then, the motor 38 is actuated to continuously rotate the film spool inside the film cartridge 18 in order to rewind the film length with the recorded information rearward into the cartridge, and the door 28 is pivoted open to remove the cartridge from the cartridge receiving chamber 26.
A known electronic flash unit 46 for flash assisted exposures is flipped up from partially covering the front cover part 22 to uncover a taking lens (not shown) preparatory to using the camera 10. See FIG. 1. Flipping up the flash unit 46 closes a normally open power switch 48 connected to the microcomputer 40 to electrically power "on" the camera 10. See FIG. 2.
A normally open cartridge present switch 50 in the cartridge receiving chamber 26 and connected to the microcomputer 40 is closed when the film cartridge 18 is present in the chamber and the door 28 is closed. See FIG. 2. If the camera 10 is powered "on" and the cartridge present switch 50 is open, a visible no-cartridge warning 52 shown in
A known electronic image sensor 58, for example a CCD sensor with integrated shuttering capability or a CMOS sensor with integrated shuttering capability, is connected to the microcomputer 40 to form a different electronic image each time one of the unexposed film frames 12 is exposed. The respective electronic images correspond to the latent images on the exposed film frames 12, are each stored in a memory 60 connected to the microcomputer 40, and can be shown one at a time in a known image display 62 such as a color LCD connected to the microcomputer. The image display 62 is located next to the status display 54, behind the window 56 in the rear cover part 24. The memory 60 has storage capacity for storing at least 40 electronic images, since the filmstrip 14 is available in 15-exposure, 25-exposure, and 40-exposure lengths.
A viewfinder 64 for viewing a subject to be photographed is located on the main body part 20. See FIG. 1.
To take a picture, a shutter release button 66 on the front cover part 22 is manually depressed which in turn closes a normally open release switch 68 connected to the microcomputer 40. See
A magnetic head 72 is mounted within an opening 74 in a film pressure platen 76 for magnetically recording the user-selected information along the track 16 adjacent each one of the exposed film frames 12. The film pressure platen 76 serves to support each film frame 12 flat for exposure at the backframe opening 30.
The user-selected information, as is known, can be a selected print quantity number preferably ranging from 0-9 prints, a selected (optional) print title in English and other languages, a selected (optional) print exposure correction +/-, and a selected "APS" print format "C" (classic), "H" (HDTV) or "P" (panoramic), for example. A "C" format print is usually 4×6 inches, a wider "H" format print is often 4×7 inches, and a much wider "P" format print is either 4×10 inches or 4×11.5 inches. The selected print quantity number, print title, and print exposure correction, and the selected "APS" print formats "C", "H" or "P", for every one of the exposed film frames 12 are stored in the memory 60. Individual visible indications of the selected print quantity number, print title, and print exposure correction for any one of the exposed film frames 12 can be seen in the status display 54. A visible indication of the selected "APS" print format "C", "H" or "P" for any one of the exposed film frames 12 can be seen in the image display 62 (preferably superimposed on the electronic image shown in the image display). Respective print quantity, title and exposure correction buttons 78, 80 and 82 are provided on the rear cover part 24, and when individually manually depressed one or more times close normally open print quantity, title and exposure correction switches 84, 86 and 88 the same number of times. See
If the print quantity switch 84 is not closed one-to-ten times (to capacity for storing at least 40 electronic images, since the filmstrip 14 is available designate the print quantity number to be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 0 prints) for a most-recently exposed one of the exposed film frames 12, the default print quantity number for the most-recently exposed frame is "1", or alternatively it can be the same as the last-made print quantity selection. The default print quantity "1" can be stored in the memory 60.
An exposed frame selector button 100 is provided on the rear cover part 24, and when manually depressed one or more times closes a normally open exposed frame selector switch 102 connected to the microcomputer 40 the same number of times, to change the electronic image and the "APS" print format "C", "H" or "P" shown in the image display 62 for any one of the exposed film frames 12, and to change the print quantity number, print title, and print exposure correction shown in the status display 54 for the same exposed film frame, to the electronic image and the user-selected information for another one of the exposed film frames. This is possible because the electronic images that match the exposed film frames, and the user-selected information for the exposed film frames, are stored in the memory 60. Thus, one can effectively scroll through the electronic images and the user-selected information stored in the memory 60 for the exposed film frames 12, and successively see the electronic images and the user-selected information for any one of the exposed film frames in the status and image displays 54 and 62. This is done in preparation for manually depressing the print quantity, title and exposure correction buttons 78, 80 and 82 and the format selection button 90 to change the user-selected information stored in the memory 60 for any one of the exposed film frames 12.
A pair of identical film perforation sensors 104 and 106 for sensing successive pairs of film perforations 108 and 110 in the filmstrip 14 are mounted in respective pockets 112 and 114 in the film pressure platen 76 and are connected to the microcomputer 40. The film perforation sensors 104 and 106, as is known, are used via the microcomputer 40 to decrement a frame count (the number of available film frames 12) stored in the memory 60 by "1", each time the filmstrip 14 is advanced forward a frame increment and the most-recently exposed one of the film frames is wound onto the exposed film roll 36 on the film take-up spool 34. The frame count begins with "15", "25" or "40" depending whether the filmstrip 40 has a 15-exposure, 25-exposure, or 40-exposure length.
A verify (print preview) button 116 is provided on the rear cover part 24, and when manually depressed closes a normally open verify switch 118 connected to the microcomputer 40. See
A unit print cost selector button 120 is provided on the rear cover part 24, and when manually depressed one-to-three times quickly in succession closes a normally open unit print cost switch 122 connected to the microcomputer 40 the same number of times, to select which ones of the "APS" print formats "C", "H" and "P" are to be assigned individual unit print costs. The "unit print cost" is the photofinisher's cost per print to the consumer. Pressing the unit cost selector button 120 only once and then pausing selects the "C"-print format. Pressing the unit cost selector button 120 twice and then pausing selects the "H"-print format. Pressing the unit cost selector button 120 three times and then pausing selects the "T"-print format. Then, when the unit print cost button 120 is continuously held depressed to maintain the unit cost switch 122 closed, visible indications of increasing unit print costs, for example from $0.01 to $0.99, successively appear in the status display 54 together with a visible indication of the selected "C"-, "H"- or "P"-print format. Releasing the unit print cost button 122 selects the unit print cost (which is visible in the status display 54 at that moment) for the selected print format. The selected unit print cost is stored in the memory 60 for the selected "C"-, "H"- or "P"-print format.
After the unit print cost is selected for a first one of the "APS" print formats and is stored in the memory 60, the sequence can be repeated to store a selected unit print cost for a second one of the "APS" print formats in the memory. Then, the sequence can be repeated to store a selected unit print cost for the remaining one of the "APS" print formats in the memory 60. An example of a unit print cost for each "C" format print is $0.10, for each "H" format print is $0.16, and for each "4" format print is $0.46.
Alternatively, the selected unit print cost stored in the memory 60 can be the same for each one of the "C"-, "H"- and "P"-print formats. In this instance, the unit print cost selector button 120 must be manually depressed four times quickly in succession to close the unit print cost switch 122 the same number of times, to select that the three print formats be assigned the same unit print cost. Then, when the unit print cost button 120 is continuously held depressed to maintain the unit cost switch 122 closed, visible indications of increasing unit print costs, for example from $0.01 to $0.99, successively appear in the status display 54 together with a visible indication of the three print formats. Releasing the unit print cost button 122 selects the unit print cost (which is visible in the status display 54 at that moment) for the three print formats. The selected unit print cost is stored in the memory 60. An example of an identical unit print cost for each one of the "C"-, "H"- and "P"-print formats is $0.28 per print.
The microcomputer 40 operates as a print cost totaller for calculating a print cost total which is a total cost of prints to be made for every one of the exposed film frames 12. The print cost total existing at any given time is stored in the memory 60 either (1) as the sum of respective print cost subtotals stored in the memory for the "C"-, "H"- and "P"-print formats, as shown in the status display 54 in
When the microcomputer 40 calculates the print cost total, it must first determine a print quantity total which is the sum (addition) of the number of prints to be made for every one of the exposed film frames 12. The print quantity total existing at any given time is stored in the memory 60 either (1) as the sum of respective print quantity subtotals stored in the memory for the "C"-, "H"- and "P"-print formats, as shown in the status display 54 in
If the separate print quantity and print cost totals existing at any given time are stored in the memory 60 as individual sums of respective print quantity subtotals and respective print cost subtotals stored in the memory for the "C"-, "H"- and "T"-print formats, as shown in the status display 54 in
The operation of the camera 10 to illustrate the invention is shown in a flow chart in
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The print cost total update subroutine shown in
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The print cost total update subroutine shown in
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The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, when in
10. camera
12. film frames
14. filmstrip
16. track
18. film cartridge
20. main body part
22. front cover part
24. rear cover part
26. cartridge receiving chamber
28. bottom door
30. backframe opening
32. exposed film take-up chamber
34. film take-up spool
36. exposed film roll
38. drive motor
40. microcomputer
42. spool cavity
44. spoolend
46. electronic flash unit
48. power switch
50. cartridge present switch
52. no-cartridge warning
54. status display
56. window
58. electronic image sensor
60. memory
62. image display
64. viewfinder
66. shutter release button
68. release switch
70. shutter
72. magnetic head
74. opening
76. film pressure platen
78. print quantity button
80. print title button
82. exposure correction button
84. print quantity switch
86. print title switch
88. exposure correction switch
90. format selection button
92. top plate
94. C, H, P switch
96. enter button
98. enter switch
100. exposed frame selector button
102. exposed frame selector switch
104. film perforation sensor
106. film perforation sensor
108. film perforation
110. filn perforation
112. pocket
114. pocket
116. verify button
118. verify switch
120. unit print cost selector button
122. unit print cost switch
124. timer
Malloy Desormeaux, Stephen G., Fields, Roger A., Bachmann, Reinhold
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Feb 18 2000 | BACHMANN, REINHOLD | Eastman Kodak Comany | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 010625 | /0587 | |
Feb 18 2000 | FIELDS, ROGER A | Eastman Kodak Comany | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 010625 | /0587 | |
Feb 21 2000 | Eastman Kodak Company | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Feb 21 2000 | DESORMEAUX, STPEHEN G MALLOY | Eastman Kodak Comany | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 010625 | /0587 |
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